Badr bin Saif
| Badr bin Saif | |
|---|---|
| Born | Badr bin Saif Al-Busaidi |
| Died | 1806 Naaman, Oman |
| Nationality | Omani |
| Known for | Regent of Oman |
Badr bin Saif, or Bedr bin Seif (died 1806) was a member of the Al Said dynasty of Oman. In 1804 he became regent while the heirs to the sultanate were minors. When he attempted to increase his power in 1806 he was killed.
Badr bin Saif was the son of Saif bin Ahmad, one of the sons of Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi, the first sultan of the Al Said dynasty. His uncle, Sultan bin Ahmad, became ruler of Oman in 1792. While Sultan was away on a pilgrimage to Mecca early in 1803, Badr bin Saif made an attempt to get control of Fort Al Jalali, a key stronghold guarding Muscat harbor. The story is that he was being smuggled into the fort in a large box, but was detected by a Hindu trader. He managed to escape and took refuge in Qatar. In Zubarah in Qatar he asked for protection from the Wahhabis, and adopted their beliefs. They helped him with two abortive attempts to take Muscat. He then travelled to Najd and met the Amir Saud, who made him welcome.
Sultan bin Ahmad left on an expedition to Basra in 1804. He died near the island of Qeshm in mid-November 1804 during a minor skirmish. Sultan had appointed Mohammed bin Nasir bin Mohammed al-Jabry the Regent and guardian of his two young sons, Salim bin Sultan and Said bin Sultan.
After Sultan's death the tribes to the north broke away from Omani authority, while a struggle for power broke out within the ruling family. Badr bin Saif, based in Muscat, gained the support of the Wahhabi leader, Su'ud, in this contest. The former sultan's brother Qais bin Ahmad decided to try to seize power. Early in 1805 he joined forces with his younger brother Mohammed and marched down the coast to Muttrah, which he took with little opposition. Mohammed bin Nasir tried to buy Qais off with a large monthly annuity. Qais refused since he had growing support and was confident of success, and continued to besiege Muscat. Mohammed bin Nasir called on Badr bin Saif for help.
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